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NOVEMBER 2, 2009
ISSN 1947-105X | Vol. 3, No. 44
Don't forget to add "newsletter@virtualassistantnetworking.com"
to your email friends list so you won't miss future issues!
MARKETING & NETWORKING ISSUE
In This Issue:
A Note from Danielle...
Social networking can be an incredible time-suck, making you feel like
you need eight arms and 25 hours in a day to get anywhere. Luckily (as
with most marketing), if you just apply a little intention and planning,
you can make sure you are engaging in only the most fruitful, worthwhile
efforts.
Yours in goodness and success :)
 Danielle
Keister
Founder & Virtual Assistant Expert
Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce
This
week I'm grateful for...
 Libby
McIntyre of McIntyre Assistance for her wonderful
quality of helpfulness.
We Love Hearing From You!
 “I
really look forward to your weekly messages. Thank you. Keep cranking
out the mail!”
— Thomas
Mullooly, Mullooly Asset Management.
How did YOU like this issue or a past teleseminar?
Was it insightful, helpful or informative? Have topic ideas you'd like
to see covered in the future? Let us know!
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FEATURE ARTICLE -
Social Networking: Must or Time-Drain?
 For
most people, the answer might be both.
As a small business owner, you probably read about the importance of
social media networking in Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. You might
even have a Facebook Fan Page for your business.
All these networks are wonderful to generate more contacts, to gain more
visibility for your business and expand your contacts. However, many small
business owners also realize that once they have all their profiles set
up, participating becomes an incredible time-draining activity with no
specific or direct or measurable benefit for their business.
Here are 3 key points to help you make the most out of this important
social marketing activity. Make sure you:
- Plan it! As with any marketing activity
you perform for your business, make a plan that includes not only objectives
but also an action plan. Set specific goals to ensure your social networking
happens for a reason and will help you get more leads and/or clients.
- Schedule it! Allocate time for your social networking
activity. You don’t need to be available all the time. If you
participate you must realize social media implies a two-way communications
channel. You will have to respond and be active, but organizing this
will ensure you make the most out of your time on these social networking
sites.
- Automatize it! There are many great online tools
to systematize several parts of your social networking communications.
Familiarize yourself with the tools available and implement the necessary
ones to make your time on these networks a productive one. Better yet—hand
this task over to your Virtual Assistant!
Remember the saying: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”
RESOURCE: One of my favorite social
media guides: Mashable.
 About
the Author: As owner of The
Bilingual VA, Victoria Miles is a Virtual Assistant providing
administrative and marketing support services to Hispanic small business
owners that benefit from bilingual assistance. Her background includes
extensive experience as a bilingual executive assistant in several multinational
companies. Not only has she assisted high level executives for 15 years,
but also was responsible for Corporate Communications and Marketing support
areas. Visit Vicky at her websites: The
Bilingual VA and Virtual
Assistance Argentina.
© Copyright 2009, The
Portable Business™. All U.S. and International rights
reserved. You may print this article for personal use or republish it
online only if it is left unaltered and used in its entirety, including
bylines, links, copyright notice, resource and author information. Contact
the author for any other permission.
-
VACOC NEWS -
Take the 2009 Annual Virtual Assistant Industry Survey
UPDATE 11/2/09: 609 participants
so far—only 391 to go! We're shooting for 1,000 so if you are a
VA, be sure and take the survey and keep those promotions going. They
really, really help. And if you are a client, please forward this email
to your Virtual Assistant. :)
Each year, the VACOC conducts an industry-wide survey with the purpose
of taking a representative, group snap-shot of those who are in the business
of providing ongoing administrative support. Virtual Assistants
who participate get the survey results report absolutely free!
Our goal this year is 1,000 participants. Judging from past years' surveys,
the report will be about 75-100 pages chockful of useful, fascinating,
eye-opening data. So don't delay—the sooner we hit the mark, the
sooner YOU get your copy!
Take
the survey >>
- VACOC NEWS -
Join the VACOC Virtual Assistant Ethics Pledge
 Did
you know the VACOC offers Virtual Assistants the most highly used and
respected ethics pledge in the industry? Lots of VAs use our Virtual Assistant
Ethics Pledge on their websites to demonstrate to clients their commitment
to integrity and excellence in business. If you are a Virtual Assistant
reading this ezine, you can, too!
It doesn't cost a dime--just your promise to honor and abide by these
ideals. Simply place the badge on your website and you're good to go!
The coding includes a link that opens the full Ethics Pledge in a new
window so you don't have to type everything out yourself. How convenient
is that?
Click
here to get your badge today!
- VACOC NEWS -
New Service for Clients: Quickie Gigs™
 The
VACOC has a new service for clients we call Quickie Gigs™.
Here's the idea:
The core business of a Virtual Assistant is providing one-on-one, ongoing
administrative support to clients they work with in long-term, continuous
relationship. We always encourage clients to go that route because it's
where you are going to reap the most rewards in terms of value, continuity
and cost-effectiveness. However, if you have not yet found your right
Virtual Assistant or you are between Virtual Assistants, but still have
occasional tasks and projects you'd like completed, we can help you out!
Quickie Gigs™ is for simple, straightforward administrative
tasks and projects that can be completed and turned-around in a day or
so (24 to 48 hours) with no fuss, no muss. All you do is fill out our
online form with the project specs and once the preliminary account set-up
is completed, we'll get to work right away. Simple as that! For
more information, be sure and check
out our Quickie Gigs™ page.
Let's Connect
Marketplace
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SCRATCHING YOUR HEAD? Have
you been wondering what this administrative solution called Virtual Assistance
is all about? Not to worry! The Virtual Assistance Chamber of Commerce
has written an online guide to answer all your questions: The
Client's Guide to Virtual Assistants.
TIRED OF WADING through
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qualified, competent and reputable Virtual Assistants to come to you instead?
Simply submit your info to our Virtual
Assistant Partnership Center.
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Find a Virtual Assistant Today
 You
don't have to live in overwhelm! Find
yourself a great Virtual Assistant today, and go from struggling
by yourself to enjoying more time, freedom and success.
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